title: How do astrocytes shape synaptic transmission? Insights from electrophysiology.
abstract: A major breakthrough in neuroscience has been the realization in the last decades that the dogmatic view of astroglial cells as being merely fostering and buffering elements of the nervous system is simplistic. A wealth of investigations now shows that astrocytes actually participate in the control of synaptic transmission in an active manner. This was first hinted by the intimate contacts glial processes make with neurons, particularly at the synaptic level, and evidenced using electrophysiological and calcium imaging techniques. Calcium imaging has provided critical evidence demonstrating that astrocytic regulation of synaptic efficacy is not a passive phenomenon. However, given that cellular activation is not only represented by calcium signaling, it is also crucial to assess concomitant mechanisms. We and others have used electrophysiological techniques to simultaneously record neuronal and astrocytic activity, thus enabling the study of multiple ionic currents and in depth investigation of neuro-glial dialogues. In the current review, we focus on the input such approach has provided in the understanding of astrocyte-neuron interactions underlying control of synaptic efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France Paris, France.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dallérac
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chever
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rouach
keywords: dual recordings; electrophysiology; glia; ionic channels; neuroglial interactions; neurons; plasticity; synapses